"The Force Behind The Power" is a 1991 album, released by Diana Ross on the Motown label. Featuring production from the likes of James Anthony Carmichael who used to work with The Commodores and Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Peter Asher, the album saw Ross solidifying her executive producing skills that she has honed since first leaving Motown in 1981. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" became a Top 10 hit across many international territories, and was prominently featured in Don Bluth's 1988 animated adventure film "The Land Before Time".
The international edition of The Force Behind the Power has two additional tracks, "No Matter What You Do," which is a duet with Al B. Sure!, and "You And I". Peter Asher finds a happy medium on only three tracks (the lovely Stevie Wonder-penned "Blame it on the Sun," the Diane Warren chestnut "Heart Don't Change My Mind," and the absolutely enchanting "If We Hold on Together"), but it's a case of too little, too late.
James Anthony Carmichael fares little better, with "Heavy Weather" and "Change of Heart" given glossy, unremarkable jazz-lite treatments. "You're Gonna Love It" is another attempt at cracking the urban market, and isn't particularly memorable (the subsequent club remixes were a marked improvement), but "Waiting in the Wings" is a definite standout--though more for Ross' beautifully layered performance and the sinuous melody line than for the still-timid production.
Stevie Wonder takes over production for the title track, and the results are decidedly fuller and funkier; unfortunately, the song itself has a distractingly clunky melody and arrangement. Repeated listening makes the whole affair much more listenable, but it takes a while to grow on you.
Track listing
01. Change of Heart (Britten, Lyle) - 4:03
02. When You Tell Me That You Love Me (Bettis, Hammond) - 4:13
03. Battlefield (Carrack, Lowe) - 3:35
04. Blame It on the Sun (Wonder, Wright) - 3:55
05. You're Gonna Love It (Davis, Tolbert) - 5:11
06. Heavy Weather (Sembello) - 4:59
07. The Force Behind the Power (Wonder) - 4:42
08. Heart (Don't Change My Mind) (Buchanan, Warren
09. Waiting in the Wings (Hill, Sinfield) - 4:52
10. You and I (Dormer, Goldo, Vigil) - 4:09
11. One Shining Moment (Thomas) - 4:48
12. If We Hold on Together (James Horner, Will Jennings) - 4:13
13. No Matter What You Do (duet with Al B. Sure!) (Brown, West) - 5:09
Released: September 1991
Label: Motown
Genre: R&B, soul
Length: 56:51
Producer: Stevie Wonder, Al B. Sure, James Anthony Carmichael, Peter Asher
Personnel
Diana Ross - Vocals
Freddie Washington - Bass
Carlos Vega - Drums
Carlos Rios - Guitar
Michael Landau - Guitar
Robbie Buchanan - Keyboards
Warren Ham - Harmonica
James Anthony Carmichael - Keyboards
The Andraé Crouch Choir - Choir
John Helliwell - Saxophone
Larry Klein - Bass
Nathaniel Kunkel - Percussion
Lee Sklar - Bass
Russ Kunkel - Drums
Waddy Wachtel - Guitar
Guy Moon - Keyboards
Randy Kerber - Keyboards
Backing Vocals – Arnold
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